【To all families with boys, why don’t you have a Japanese-style celebration?】

Hello, this is KOTO KYOTO!

 Many tourists from all over the world have been visiting Kyoto this Spring after three years.

We hear not only English, but also German, French, Italian, etc., and the other language I have never heard in town. ☺

We, KOTO got messages and questions from overseas, such as, “I would like to visit your shop as I will travel to Kyoto.”, “I would like to buy looking like this, can I buy it?”.

We are really happy that people in the world gradually have been getting to know us.

By the way, after the Cherry blossom season, we are looking forward to the following holiday,

“Golden Week”.

Golden Week is a series of a holiday, consisting of April 29, Showa no hi (the birthday of the Emperor of the Showa era), May 03, Constitution Memorial Day, May 04, Greenery Day (it is set for the people who can take a holiday), May 05, Children’s Day =Tango no sekku).

This concentrated period of holidays and national holidays including weekdays and Saturdays became Golden Week, as people can take a longer holiday.

Many people overseas might think that such a length of the holiday is not called, “Golden Week” ….

Today, we would like to introduce Children’s Day, May 05, one of the holidays on Golden Week.

Originally, this holiday on May 05 is called “Tango no sekku”, which was a day to celebrate boys to pray for their healthy growth and happiness.

In 1948, May 05 is declared a national holiday, the purpose of the day was to respect children’s personalities, consider their happiness, and appreciation towards mothers.

“Tango no sekku” had started to call Children’s Day “.

“Tango no sekku” was an event in the past to prevent illness and misfortune (bad things), the flower, iris (Shobu) which decorated for this event, Shobu in Japanese is a homonym with words meaning “fight”, and also iris leaves resemble for swords which was a tool for warriors or samurai. It is said that the event gradually became to boy’s celebration.

Families who have boys often display Koinobori (carp-shaped windsocks) outside their houses on this day.

Carps (Koi in Japanese) are symbolized strong, swim in a strong fast current river, and climb up even a waterfall.

There's a meaning to wishing children to grow up well like such strong carps behind it.

Koinobori (carp-shaped windsocks) has their meanings in colors and size.

These represent a family of carps,

The biggest carp is called, Magoi, which means black carp, a father.

The middle-sized carp is called, Higoi, which means red carp, a mother.

The smallest one is called, Kogoi, which means blue carp, a child.

 A five-colored streamer putting together with Koinobori, means to purge misfortune wishing children to grow up without troubles.
Please take a look at here⇒★★★

There is also a tradition to display a helmet at home.

A helmet is a part of warrior figures to protect the body in the past, it is meant to protect children's bodies and grow up healthy.

 Please take a look at here⇒★★★

How about celebrating Japanese style “Tango no sekku” and wishing boys health and grow-up well for families with boys?